Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)

The use of ENDS, or electronic nicotine delivery systems, is a growing concern for NYC Smoke-Free. These products deliver nicotine derived from tobacco and, as such, are highly addictive. Additionally, the use of ENDS has been shown to be a gateway to other tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, hookah, and smokeless tobacco, particularly among youth. NYC Smoke-Free is committed to protecting New Yorkers, especially youth, from being drawn into a lifetime of nicotine addiction.


Despite a decline in cigarette use among youth in New York State, ENDS use among adolescents has increased dramatically by 160% between 2014 and 2018. ENDS use is higher among NY high school students than adults, with 43.8% of students reporting having tried e-cigarettes. According to NYC DOHMH’s 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 45,000 NYC high school students have used e-cigarettes or other vaping products, more than double those who report smoking conventional cigarettes.

The tobacco industry is using manipulative and predatory marketing tactics to advertise e-cigarettes and other ENDS products to young people. These products are marketed using approaches that were banned for cigarettes in the 1990s to tackle youth-targeted marketing. Tactics include attractive flavors, celebrity endorsements, alluring branding with words like “candy,” and fun designs that resemble toys.

As a new type of product, there is no long-term research into the health effects of using ENDS. While it is falsely believed that the use of e-cigarettes is less harmful than conventional smoking, nicotine in any form is highly addictive and harmful. These products produce chemical-containing aerosols, which can cause eye and respiratory irritation, as well as airway constriction. ENDS can contain flavorants such as Diacetyl, which is life-threatening when heated up and is linked to lung diseases like Popcorn Lung. They also include volatile organic compounds and heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems represent an evolution in a long history of tobacco products in the United States. The popularity of e-cigarettes and other ENDS products has the potential to damage NYC’s hard-earned progress in comprehensive tobacco control and efforts to end the deadly tobacco epidemic. NYC Smoke-Free is committed to working towards preventing the use of ENDS and other tobacco products, especially among youth.

Resources

No Menthol Sundays

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The New York State Smokers' Quitline

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NYC Quits

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NYC Smoke-Free Housing Tool Kit for Landlords and Managing Agents

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The Asian Smokers’ Quitline

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Two Shades of Green: Saving Money and Protecing Public Health in Affordable Housing

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